Kiss of Souls

by Morgan Kelley

  Ethan got away from her.

  He put space between them.

  “I’m going after my wife. While you’re a nice woman, you’re not my Elizabeth. I love my wife, and my family. I’m not cheating on her, and not with someone I have no feelings for whatsoever.”

  “Well, that hurt.”

  “Marlee.”

  “It’s okay. If you’re leaving Washington, we wouldn’t work anyway.”

  She pulled her dress back on.

  “Thanks for stopping a horrible mistake.”

  She tied the belt and headed out.

  “Uh, the meeting?” he called.

  “I have a ride,” she said, as she slammed the door behind her. Clearly, without his power in DC, he wasn’t worth her time.

  Thank.

  Freaking.

  God.

  Ethan sat down, and again, he pulled out his journal. Before, he wouldn’t tell his wife when women did things like this. He’d worried it would destroy their marriage, and now, telling her was the only way to save it.

  Well, the tides had certainly changed, and he knew it.

  Ethan turned on the TV, found a channel in Delta Falls, and watched them talk about his wife.

  Yeah, he could move on, and with just about any woman he wanted, but his heart was Elizabeth’s.

  She was his.

  He needed her in his life.

  Ethan Blackhawk only wanted one thing, and it wasn’t the job.

  It was his marriage.

  And he was going to get it.

  * * * L i t t l e m o o n * * *

  Regina McCann’s

  Apartment

  They didn’t know what the hell they were going to find when they got there.

  Only, it wasn’t her.

  Regina McCann was definitely not there.

  It was getting frustrating because unless she was swallowed by the Earth, there was no way she went missing.

  “Break in,” Julian stated.

  “I am not breaking in. I’m a Fed.”

  “Okay, you cover me, and I’ll break in. You get to be my backup out here,” Julian offered, pulling out his kit.

  He stared at him.

  “Deal.”

  Callen blocked his way, and Julian worked the lock.

  “I could have opened it by now,” Callen whispered, hoping none of the neighbors were staring out their peep holes at them.

  Then there was a click, and Julian was gone behind a closed door.

  Inside, Julian wandered the place. It didn’t smell like a dead body, so that gave him hope that Regina wasn’t dead. So much for their theory that the killer was trying to take out the list.

  Maybe they simply had two coincidental deaths.

  As he moved from room to room, the mannequins scared the bejesus out of him. They were men wearing women’s gear.

  Yeah, they had a transgendered stripper.

  In the bedroom, the place was neat as a pin. In the one drawer, Julian found sexual aids for men and women.

  Well, that was confusing.

  That meant that Regina, had someone there with her.

  Him.

  Her.

  Oh, hell!

  Whatever pronoun she was using.

  In the bathroom, he searched through the medicine cabinet. In it, there were hormones. That meant that Regina was going to be coming back at some point.

  There was no way she would leave them behind.

  They were her lifeline to changing into the sex she felt she related to in life.

  Pulling out his phone, he took pictures of all the meds. He’d ask Christina later what they were, just in case something here was out of place.

  He didn’t think it was, but who was he to make that call? Julian didn’t know much about science let alone transgendered strippers.

  What he did know was this place was creepy as hell. He’d spent enough time in there, and he couldn’t get caught.

  Finishing his trek through the place—illegally, he moved back to the door, and outside.

  “Well?” Callen asked.

  “That was interesting.”

  “What did you find?”

  “I found hormones, lots of stripper gear, some vibrators, condoms, and chastity belts.”

  Callen, for as long as he lived, would never understand what would possess a man to strap one of those things on. Just the thought made him shiver. If you had a dick, the point was to use it as much as you could—not train it. It wasn’t like it was going to fetch the damn paper.

  “Well, that didn’t give us anything but the chance Regina will be back. We need more. I can’t sit here all day.”

  Neither of them could.

  Clarissa was making dinner, and if they bailed, she’d kick some serious ass.

  “Let’s ask the other residents.”

  That was easier said than done.

  They knocked, they banged, and finally, Callen figured out there was only one way to do this.

  He headed down the hall, pulled his wallet out, and took one for the team, and his wife.

  When she wanted something handled, she didn’t want anyone to mess around. They needed to get to the point, and by the shortest route possible.

  “I will pay anyone who comes out of their apartments one hundred bucks if you can give me any viable information on Regina McCann,” he offered.

  No one appeared.

  “We’re talking cold, hard cash.”

  He held up some bills.

  That was the magic that would get shit done.

  Two doors opened, and two people, who looked like strung-out junkies, appeared.

  This information was probably not going to be very reliable, and he knew it, but it was still something.

  After all, you got what you asked for. This was proof how desperate he was to help his wife out.

  Callen was going to give junkies drug money to find a transgendered person.

  Awesome.

  Today was not one of his finer moments. Here was the proof.

  “I need to find Regina. Is she around?”

  “I saw her this morning,” one stated, as he held out his hand.

  “Tell me where to find her.”

  They whispered to each other.

  “Really? I didn’t say you could tag team to get your money. I need viable information.”

  “She’s dodging the cops. When she saw that woman was killed, she has been hopping motels and crashing with people to stay out of here.”

  “Where can I find her?”

  Julian watched his friend work.

  He was amused. A lot of Elizabeth had worn off on him. It was clear.

  “She strips.”

  This was getting weirder and weirder. “So, he, who is a she, strips?”

  “Yes.”

  “In a gentleman’s club?”

  “Yes.”

  The logistics of that…

  It nearly blew Julian’s mind. Were men going to see a woman take off her clothes, or were they gay and going to see…

  Never mind.

  His head was beginning to hurt.

  “Has Regina had surgery?” Julian asked, trying to picture it.

  “No.”

  Oh, even better.

  “Where’s the club?” he asked.

  The one rattled off the name. “It’s called ‘Beat Around The Bush’. It’s down on tenth. The men who go there like more T than A.”

  “Tits?” Callen asked.

  “No, testicles.”

  Jesus.

  He was not going there. Nothing his wife could say or do was going to make it happen, either. He didn’t care if she promised to rub her T and A all over his D.

  It was not happening.

  Callen was drawing the line.

  He handed them each their money, and they got ready to escape that place. Only, Julian was laughing, and Callen couldn’t really blame him.

  They had gotten themselves into one hell of a predicament this time.

  “Are we h
eading there?” Julian asked, once they were in their ride.

  “Are you out of your mind?”

  “Come on! You know it’s going to be one hell of a story,” he stated.

  “Do you want this to come back to your daughter one day?” Callen asked. “Gee, Daddy, why were you in a bar checking out men who look like ladies?”

  Julian laughed.

  “This is not funny.”

  He disagreed.

  It was three days past funny.

  “You know she’s going to make us go there, right?” he asked. “She’s not going to let you out of it.”

  Oh, he was aware.

  “I am not going.”

  Callen knew one thing.

  He absolutely was going to be going, but he wasn’t going alone. He was taking backup.

  Badass Elizabeth Blackhawk was going to the club if he had anything to say about it.

  * * * L i t t l e m o o n * * *

  He was getting nervous.

  From watching the news coverage, he was seeing the Feds move around, asking questions.

  He knew this was bad.

  Maybe killing Shelby Christensen was a very bad idea. This was bringing a whole lot of attention to himself.

  He didn’t doubt that before long, they were going to be asking him some very uncomfortable questions.

  And that sucked.

  Maybe it was time to really bail and get out of town. A hasty retreat might be advisable.

  If he had to face down Elizabeth Blackhawk, and her reputation, he was pretty sure he was going to piss himself.

  Or worse.

  She was scary.

  She was tough.

  He’d read about her online.

  Then add in the Littlemoons, and he had himself one hell of a problem.

  He was going to get caught.

  Forcing himself to relax, he took a deep breath.

  No one would suspect him.

  He was the last person anyone would think did this.

  And for that, he was damn grateful.

  Chapter twenty-two

  Delta Falls

  Morgue

  W hen the three of them arrived, Detective Woods was visibly nervous. He wasn’t sure if sneaking into the morgue while off duty was going to be a wise idea. One never knew when the commissioner was going to pop into the office.

  This could blow up in his face.

  As they sat there, trying decide the best course of action to access the building, Arsen saw something he couldn’t believe.

  “Wait a minute!”

  The women turned around.

  “What?” Tori asked.

  “That’s my partner.”

  They focused on the man heading into the building. He was wearing his gun, badge, and vest. They could see it beneath his shirt.

  “Well, he’s working.”

  “We both took time off. He told me he was going fishing. This can’t be right.”

  Apparently, not.

  Elizabeth had to know. “How did he feel about this case?” she asked.

  “He wanted to hang Beau Christensen.”

  They thought about it.

  Elizabeth came up with a very simple explanation. “Maybe he didn’t get pulled.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Maybe this was to get you off the case. Why would the commissioner pull a detective that had the same goal in mind from a case? He’d have to hope the new cops would be on the same page. This was a perfect opportunity for him.”

  She had a point.

  “Well, he did spout off in front of the media.”

  They let him think about it.

  “Son of a bitch. I was played.”

  “Welcome to the reality of it all. Call him. Ask him what he’s doing.”

  Arsen pulled out his phone and dialed his partner’s cell phone. Not his personal one, but his work one.

  “Hey, partner. What’s shaking?” Jamie asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be relaxing and getting laid?”

  Arsen laughed.

  It was fake as hell.

  “Yeah, but I thought I’d check in. What are you up to? Did you get out fishing?” he asked.

  “Yeah, they are biting too. I just needed a really good bait. What are you doing?” he asked.

  Well, other than getting pissed?

  “I’m chilling out. I was going to suggest we head out and grab a few beers tonight,” he offered.

  “Well, I’ll be back in town later. I can meet you. Where?” he asked.

  Arsen rattled off the name of the bar connected to all of this. He was going to get to the bottom of it.

  Tonight.

  “Okay, I’ll see you there around nine. That’s not too late, right?”

  “Nah, I’m on vacation like you. That’s perfect. I don’t have to be up early for work.”

  He hung up.

  “I’m sorry,” Tori stated. “He lied to you.”

  “Yeah, he did.”

  Elizabeth motioned toward the building. “You can stay here while we go in.”

  No.

  Freaking.

  Way.

  He was going. If they were going to play him, then he was going to play them right back. Suddenly, there was no guilt that he was teaming up with the Littlemoons.

  “No. I’m in.”

  That was good with them.

  “Well, then we should get in there before my ME loses his mind. Something is up.”

  Tori was glad.

  They needed something, and fast.

  Once they entered the back of the building, it was empty. Detective Woods used his card to get them into the morgue doors.

  Oh, he was likely letting one hell of a fox into the hen house, but he didn’t care.

  He was done.

  As they headed down the stairs, Elizabeth could hear laughter coming from the morgue.

  What.

  The.

  Hell?

  As she got closer, she would recognize that giggle anywhere. It was her favorite head tech of all time.

  “Christina!”

  The woman turned around and raced at her. She nearly took Elizabeth down with the embrace.

  “I’ve missed you,” Christina said.

  Elizabeth laughed.

  “Clearly.”

  “Chris needed help, so he called me in. I hope you don’t mind,” she offered. “I’m still in practice. I pick trace off the team when they aren’t looking and try to reconstruct their days.”

  Tori stared at her. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. My bad.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I don’t mind at all. Was this my surprise, Christopher?” she asked.

  “This was the good news. I had help.”

  “And the bad?”

  “Your dead attorney wasn’t murdered. I’m calling it suicide by strangulation.”

  “Awesome. So, it’s not connected?”

  He shook his head.

  That sucked for all of them.

  “And the tox?” the detective asked.

  “It’s not all back yet, but I will tell you that he had none of the markers of it. If he was knocked out with something, that’s one thing, but he wasn’t poisoned.”

  “When will you know?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I’m about to run it through this very old, shitty mass spec,” Christina offered. “I miss the FBI and all the fun things.”

  Elizabeth bet.

  They missed her.

  “I’m about to start my autopsy on the second body. Want to hang out and watch?” Chris asked.

  It wasn’t like they had anywhere to be.

  The only person left to interview was the wrong number guy. Marshall Wolff could wait until morning.

  “Sure. I’m in. Need help?” she asked.

  “Suit up,” Chris said, grateful to have the help. With Christina doing the trace, he was going to need another set of hands.

  Man.

  He missed Tony.

  “Okay,” Elizabeth said,
stripping out of her blazer and down to her shirt. Chris helped her tie on a plastic apron, and then gave her a kiss.

  “I love working with you, honey.”

  The detective lifted a brow.

  “Uh, that’s inappropriate.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Story of my whole life,” she stated. When Chris looked over at her, she didn’t pretend anymore.

  “Chris and I dated for many years. We have a chemistry when it comes to working together. We were a team in and out of the bedroom.”

  He winked at her. It was so much better not pretending to be something they weren’t.

  “Yeah, we do. Crazy likes crazy.”

  She was done denying things. Lies got her into this mess, and the truth would set her free.

  “What do you want first?” she asked.

  “Christina already picked out the maggots and flies,” he offered.

  “Oh, and here I was looking forward to that too. Damn it,” she teased.

  Chris laughed as he picked up his scalpel.

  “Uh, try not to cut yourself, Doc. You know how druggies like sharing needles.”

  Oh, he was aware.

  As he cut into Xavier Lake, the bloat dissipated into the air.

  “Ah, the smell of the dead and right before we have dinner tonight too,” she stated.

  Tori didn’t miss this part. “I always hated autopsy.”

  “Well, you dealt with crispy bodies,” Elizabeth stated. “Who liked that?”

  Christina raised her hand.

  Elizabeth snorted. “Get back to work, Christina. By the time he’s done, I want to know if he was drugged, and I want to know what was going on with this one.”

  She went back to work with the biggest grin on her face. Someone missed being bossed around.

  “Any trauma?” Elizabeth asked.

  Tori and the detective moved closer as Chris began pulling out organs.

  “No internal bleeding, and I already checked for skull fractures.”

  “The white foam?” the detective asked, pointing to the man’s mouth.

  “He likely OD’d, but I have to eliminate everything first. Once that’s done, Christina should have the tox run.”

  She waved and giggled.

  “Uh, you can lose some of the enthusiasm,” Tori offered. “Your boss is standing right here.”